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In agriculture, a catch crop is a fast-growing crop that is grown between successive plantings of a main crop.[1] It is a specific type of cover crop that is grown between two main crops.[2] This crop is utilized as a way to reduce nitrogen leaching but it also promotes environmental benefits such as fortifying soil structure, retention of water and enhancement of soil biological activity.[3][4] Catch crops revolve around plant species that have short growing seasons, rapid growth, low soil and nutrients requirements to be considered a catch crop.[4]
Catch cropping is a type of succession planting. It makes more efficient use of growing space. For example, radishes that mature from seed in 25–30 days can be grown between rows of most vegetables, and harvested long before the main crop matures. Or, a catch crop can be planted between the spring harvest and fall planting of some crops.
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